‘Heartbreaking’: Fury as teen talent dies after collapsing on court

China has unleashed its fury after devastating scenes of a teenage rising star dying on court. WARNING: Distressing footage.

Seventeen-year-old rising badminton star Zhang Zhijie died after he collapsed on court while competing in a match at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on Monday.

In a traumatic scene, Chinese athlete Zhijie was stretchered off the floor and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead after attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Zhijie suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, Indonesia’s badminton association PBSI later said, per the BBC.

Zhijie, who was facing Japan’s Kazuma Kawano, fell to the floor and appeared to convulse.

Viral footage of the tragic incident shows it took more than 35 seconds before help finally arrived to check his condition.

You can watch the tragedy in the video player above. WARNING: Distressing footage

Zhang Zhijie.has died age 17. Photo: Twitter: Wide Awake Media.

A PBSI spokesman told reporters that medical teams had followed a rule where they needed the referee’s permission before entering the court.

“That is in accordance with the regulations and standards of procedure that applies to every international badminton tournament,” he said.

The Badminton World Federation said it will investigate if the correct protocol’s were taken during the tragic incident.

“Zhang’s death at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia is a tragic occurrence, and we are taking all necessary steps to thoroughly review this matter in consultation with Badminton Asia and Badminton Association of Indonesia,” they said, per TMZ.

Chinese badminton players and coaches (in white jackets and black armbands), along with all players competing in the 2024 Asia Junior Championship, praying together for the late Chinese player Zhang Zhi Jie. Photo: AFP.

The Chinese team honoured Zhang Zhijie during the ceremony. Photo: Twitter, Wide Awake Media.

Officials from Badminton Asia have said publicly Zhang was taken to an ambulance within two minutes.

Despite this, questions about how the medical team reacted continue to be asked around the world.

It has been compared to the shocking scenes in 2021 where Danish football star Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a Euro 2020 game against Finland.

The BBC first reported the circumstances surrounding the death have caused outrage across China.

It has also come to light that the first medical responders did not have an AED machine to react to the cardiac arrest.

Zhang Zhijie suddenly collapsed. Photo: Twitter, Wide Awake Media.

Zhang Zhiji was eventually stretchered off. Photo: Twitter, Wide Awake Media.

Chinese social media platform Weibo has been flooded with messages of outrage where a hashtag about Zhang’s death has been trending for days.

“Which is more important - the rules or someone’s life?” said a comment which was liked by thousands, per the BBC.

Another wrote: “Did they miss the ‘golden period’ to rescue him?”

Badminton players observed a moment of silence in memory of Zhijie at the Badminton Asia Junior Championship at Amongrogo Sport Center on Tuesday.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia also held a moment of silence at tournament on Sunday, as seen in a video posted on X.

“One minute of silence as we pay our respects to the late Zhang Zhi Jie. Rest in peace.”

One minute of silence as we pay our respects to the late Zhang Zhi Jie.

Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/DhP4actMDJ

— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) July 1, 2024

India’s PV Sindhu, who has won Olympic silver and bronze, called Zhang’s death “absolutely heartbreaking”.

“I offer my deepest condolences to Zhang’s family during this devastating time,” Sindhu, who was not at the tournament, wrote on X.

“The world has lost a remarkable talent today.”

Badminton Asia said the federation is “immensely saddened” and added that “the world of badminton has lost a talented player”.

China’s badminton association said it was “deeply saddened”.“Zhang Zhijie loved badminton and was an outstanding athlete of the national youth badminton team,” the CBA said in a statement.

Zhang’s parents have travelled to the city to retrieve his body.

Originally published as ‘Heartbreaking’: Fury as teen talent dies after collapsing on court